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Drug Overdose Symptoms

One of the most dangerous risks associated with drug use is the potential for an overdose. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a drug overdose can help you prevent a tragedy from happening.

Drug overdoses are actually brain injuries that result when a patient lacks sufficient oxygen supply to the brain. Overdoses may be intentional or unintentional, although the latter happens more frequently. Every time you use recreational drugs (or even prescribed drugs outside their indications), you run the risk of suffering drug overdose symptoms and needing to seek drug addiction treatment. All drugs should be strictly used according to a qualified physician’s prescription. And if you’re struggling with an addiction to opioids, such as heroin or OxyCodone, contact our drug addiction treatment center at 833.448.0127 today.

Why Do Drug Overdoses Happen?

Drug overdoses occur when the dose used exceeds what your body can handle, leading to a dangerous and potentially fatal reaction. One common cause of overdose is when an individual takes multiple drugs at once, such as mixing opioid painkillers with alcohol or taking a combination of illegal and prescribed drugs.

Relapse can also be a factor in overdose. Someone who has been abstinent or clean for an extended period of time may accidentally take too large of a dose if they return to using due to cravings. Medication-assisted treatment can be the key to avoiding this problem, as it helps to control cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms. Some medications can also prevent overdoses by blocking the effects of drugs and alcohol.

Common Drug Overdose Symptoms

Common symptoms of drug overdose include:

  • Physiological symptoms – Rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, dilated pupils, and blue lips or fingertips
  • Respiratory symptoms – Chest pain, difficulty or cessation of breathing, and airway obstruction (gargling or choking sounds)
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms – Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
  • Behavioral and neurological symptoms – Confusion, aggression or violent behavior, unconsciousness, and seizures

The signs of drug overdose vary according to the type of drug and body chemistry of the person. Different people may experience various symptoms, even after overdosing on the same drug. If you or anyone else think they may have overdosed on any drug, you need immediate drug overdose treatment. In the longer term, addiction treatment therapy can help you or your loved one beat their addiction.

Opioid Overdose

Opioids are drugs or medications that come from the opium plant. These can induce a euphoric high, but they can be dangerous drugs when taken in large quantities. Signs of opioid overdose include:

  • Extremely dilated or pinpoint pupils
  • Slack or droopy muscles
  • Being awake but unable to talk
  • Pale or clammy skin
  • Slow or erratic heartbeat and breathing

The first thing to do when you suspect alcohol poisoning is to call 911. If you have access to the medication naloxone, use it as quickly as possible. If you need medication-assisted treatment, contact CMAR.

Heroin Overdose

Heroin is a type of opioid that carries the risk of overdose whenever it is used. Common signs of drug overdose from heroin include slow or shallow breathing, looking or feeling spaced out, bluish lips, nails and fingertips, weak pulse, lethargy, confusion, dry mouth, tiny pupils, and unresponsiveness.

Experiencing or watching someone experience a heroin overdose can be frightening, and this overdose can easily turn fatal if not managed swiftly. Always seek emergency medical attention if you suspect someone has overdosed. If you are struggling with opioid abuse, contact our opioid addiction treatment center.

What to Do if Someone Has Overdosed

Many Americans are more likely to die from drug overdose than from motor vehicle accidents. Opioid overdose is currently the most common cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. Therefore, it is crucial for everyone to know what to do in the event you come across someone who is showing drug overdose symptoms. If you think you or another person has overdosed, call 911 and stay with the person until the paramedics arrive. Ensure that they stop using whatever drug they’re on and report your suspicions to the emergency line. Someone will guide you regarding what to do as you wait for assistance.

Find Effective Treatment at CMAR Today

If someone you love has recently overdosed on opioids, it is clear that drug addiction treatment is needed. After emergency treatment for drug overdose symptoms, you need to get yourself or your loved one professional drug overdose treatment and rehabilitation therapy. Treatment can help to prevent a relapse and further overdoses.

CMAR is here to provide you with evidence-based substance use disorder treatment in Colorado. Reach out to our team at 833.448.0127 or contact us online to learn more.

What Is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a type of injection provided in an emergency situation to stop an opioid overdose from occurring. It is powerful enough to reverse many life-threatening conditions resulting from using opiates but is never guaranteed to be effective. This drug has other uses, but for those who struggle with opioid addictions, this opioid antagonist is often a life-saving measure applied when an overdose occurs. At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, our team of professionals provides support for those in recovery from opioid addiction with medication and counseling.

How Does Naloxone Work?

This medication works very rapidly to reverse the effects of opioids. As such, it is called an opioid antagonist. That means it binds to the opioid receptors in the brain. As it does, it stops the effect the other opioids in a person’s body is having.

For example, those consuming too much heroin or pain medication may have shallow, slowed breathing that limits the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs. When Naloxone is used, it can stop the effect that the drug is having, allow for normal respirations – or improvements – to occur. It may help in situations where a person has shallow or very little breathing or, in some cases, when a person stops breathing.

This drug is given in an injection. A Naloxone injection comes with a specific amount of the drug in a liquid solution. It needs to be injected into a vein or can be injected directly into the muscle. Emergency medical providers and police officers often use these pre-filled auto-injection devices that contain the drug.

A person who is engaging in drug use will be unable to use the injection themselves due to their health state. For those who are considering using it as a way to prevent overdose death while getting high, this is never recommended and rarely is successful.

What to Consider When an Overdose Occurs

If an overdose occurs, a person needs to receive emergency medical help immediately. While Naloxone works to reverse the effects of the opioid in the system, it cannot treat addiction, nor can it help to stop dependence on these drugs. In addition, it may not continue to work especially if the dose of opioids taken continues to increase.

For those with a loved one struggling with opioid addiction, treatment in a professional setting is critical. It may help to save a person’s life to administer this injection. However, because of how powerful these drugs are, that individual may not be able to stop using opioids on his or her own. Professional treatment, using other medications and psychotherapy, can provide the support a person needs.

How to Get Help for Opioid Addiction and Dependence

There are solutions for drug addiction, including for those who have overdosed previously. At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we offer a range of therapies that provide outstanding one-on-one support in a safe environment. For those looking for medication-assisted treatment on an outpatient basis, our team can offer help.

Some of our programs and treatment options include:

For those who are using this drug as a way to prevent death due to increased opioid use, there is help available that can help a person reclaim their life. Our programs fit your schedule and can help you build the tools you need for lasting recovery.

Invest in Treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

Naloxone may provide a temporary solution for those who are facing an opioid overdose. Yet, it is not a solution to the problem. As an opioid antagonist, it is a powerful tool to help in emergency situations. The best way to avoid an overdose is through preventative treatment. The Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery team can help. Call 833.448.0127 or connect with us online now.

VERIFY INSURANCE

Cortland Mathers-Suter

MSSA
Managing Partner

Cortland Mathers-Suter entered the treatment space after his own battle with addiction. He first worked as a peer mentor, before starting clinical work while completing his Masters of Science in social administration from Case Western Reserve University where he focused on policy and direct practice. Cortland moved to Colorado in 2015 to start his first addiction treatment program, AspenRidge Recovery. Under his tenure, AspenRidge Recovery became a two-location, nationally accredited organization. He has since spent the last two years researching and developing what is now Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR).

According to Cortland, “Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery is the most important organization I have had the honor to help build. We’re offering a service that seeks to not only improve the lives of our patients but also evolve how we look at medication-assisted treatment in Colorado entirely. Most individuals receiving medication-assisted care only receive medication and urinalysis. Sure you can call that ‘treatment,’ but you can’t call that ‘recovery.’ Our model is about adding the missing recovery component, and thus affords an opportunity to achieve lasting change for each patient and the industry.”

Cortland and his treatment programs have received numerous honors. These include Colorado Business Magazine’s “GenXYZ” award, the 2020 “Titan 100” award, and his program AspenRidge Recovery was both a finalist for “Best Healthcare Company” and named in the “Company’s to Watch” by Colorado Business Magazine as well. He has been interviewed and quoted by numerous publications for his “addiction expertise”, including News Week, 5280 Magazine, the Denver Post, Elephant Journal, Colorado Biz Mag, and TheRecoverySource.org.

Tyler Whitman

Compliance/HR Administrator

Tyler is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He worked in manufacturing administration for 18 years until he chose to pursue recovery from alcohol addiction, which led him to Chicago, Illinois. Since then, Tyler gained experience in retail, retail pharmacy, and healthcare as a vaccine coordinator for a local Colorado clinic. At the clinic, Tyler discovered that healthcare was the career change he had been looking for. His newfound passion for healthcare, combined with his lived experience with addiction, brought him to Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery as an Office Administrator.

In his free time, Tyler enjoys cooking, hiking, and skiing. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Regis University.

Simmeren Boanvala

BA
Outreach and Admissions Representative

Simmeren comes to CMAR after several years working admissions in inpatient psychiatry and addiction. A first-generation Colorado Native, Simmeren attended CU Boulder, where she earned a BA in psychology. Simmeren is currently completing her CAC III while working toward her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

According to Simmeren, “I joined CMAR because I believe in the quality and importance of the program whole-heartedly. My goal at CMAR is to guide each prospect who calls CMAR to find the best possible pathway to their recovery”. Simmeren currently lives in her hometown with her dog and cat.

Tyler Hale

Tyler Hale

Community Partnership Lead

Tyler Hale began his career in addiction treatment following a decades-long fight with his own substance abuse issues. Since achieving long-term recovery, Tyler has held various positions in direct care, client services, admissions and outreach departments at various addiction treatment organizations. From sober living program director to outreach director to admissions director at a drug and alcohol treatment program, Tyler consistently finds himself in leadership roles within the addiction treatment space.

Tyler is originally from Chicago, IL, where he graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Bioethics. Thereafter, Tyler built a successful career in the tech industry, before finding sobriety and a subsequent calling to help others. Tyler joined the team at CMAR because he believes in the efficacy of comprehensive and patient-centered outpatient treatment. In his free time Tyler enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with his newborn son.

Kirstin O’Carroll

MSW
Engagement and Relations Director

Kirstin O’Carroll started her career in addiction and mental health services 23 years ago after graduating with an MSW from The Oho State University. Hired directly from an internship program, she served as a case manager and vocational specialist on a community treatment team in Columbus, OH, working to help severely mentally ill adults remain at home and in a community setting. Within the same organization, she later transitioned to clinical assessment and crisis intervention services with children, adolescents, and adults. Through these experiences, she learned the importance of providing empathetic, high-quality care and the need to “start wherever the patient is” with regard to finding the best treatment & solutions for her patients.

After seven years, Kirstin made a career change to diagnostic sales and worked for several Fortune 500 companies as an acute care sales specialist. She is delighted to return “home” to her passion for helping others and believes her new role as community engagement coordinator for CMAR is the perfect alignment of both her clinical and sales skills. When not promoting CMAR, she can be found reading, running, hiking, watching movies, and spending time with her husband Dennis and senior canine son Reggie.

Thomas Mazzarella

LAC
Primary Therapist

Thomas is a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in the State of Colorado and a Licensed Addictions Specialist (LCAS) in the State of North Carolina with particular expertise in the treatment of chronic Substance Abuse Addiction and Dependency.

Thomas is dedicated to Individual, Couples, Family, and Group Counseling and Therapy for individuals with Substance Use and Mental Health issues and concerns.

James Jackman

CAS
Primary Therapist

James Jackman is a Certified Addiction Specialist and has been practicing addiction treatment in Colorado since 2015. James is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University Denver. James is a traditional CBT therapist specializing in childhood events that lead to adult addictions.

James has received special training in Family Systems, Inner Child, Maladaptive Schemas, and Adverse Childhood Experiences. James has worked in many treatment settings throughout his career and uses a client-centered treatment approach to help one recover from destructive patterns that facilitate addiction. In addition, James enjoys working with rescue animals and advocates for several local rescue organizations outside of work.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Megan Hanekom

LPC, LAC, NCC
Therapist & Clinical Compliance Officer

Megan is a licensed counselor who has worked in various mental health and addiction treatment environments. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing and believes in pulling from various therapeutic approaches to best support each individual. Megan received her bachelor’s in psychology and Spanish from Concordia College. She relocated from North Dakota to Colorado where she earned a master’s in counseling psychology from the University of Denver.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Maggie Coyle

MA, LPC
Primary Therapist

Maggie Coyle, MS, MA, LPP, LPCC has worked in the mental health and addictions counseling field for the past six years. She has extensive experience in working in the varying levels of mental health and addictions treatment as well as with diverse populations.

She practices cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy as primary intervention methods. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling both from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. She has also earned a master’s degree in addictions counseling from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Maggie moved from South Dakota to Colorado in June 2020 and is excited to be a part of the CMAR team.

Michael Damioli

LCSW, CSAT
Clinical Director

Michael Damioli has been passionately working in the fields of addiction treatment and mental health since 2012. He has held a variety of different roles within the addiction recovery space, ranging from peer support to direct clinical practice. Notably, Michael was part of a leadership group that developed a small therapy practice into a nationally branded addiction treatment program, which offers multiple levels of care to recovering professionals. Michael is a strong believer in the family disease model of addiction and has focused much of his clinical work and training on supporting families impacted by addiction. He also specializes in treating individuals suffering from co-occurring chemical and process addictions.

Michael is honored to be leading the clinical care team at CMAR and believes that excellent clinical care begins by simply treating a patient with dignity and respect. Michael is a strong advocate for ethical reform within the addiction treatment field and is excited to promote CMAR as an ethical and thought leader throughout the treatment & recovery industry. Michael earned his master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver and is independently licensed as a clinical social worker with the state of Colorado. He holds an advanced post-graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy from the Denver Family Institute as well as an advanced certificate in sexual addiction counseling from the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals.

Dwight-Duncan

Dwight Duncan

Psy.D
Psychologist

Dr. Duncan was born and spent most of his early life in California. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver in 1987. He is a licensed psychologist as well as a licensed addiction counselor. He has had extensive training and experience throughout his professional career in medical psychology, mindfulness, integrated behavioral healthcare, and substance abuse.

Dr. Duncan is married and has one daughter, a neurologic physical therapist in Los Angeles.

Susan-Miget

Susan Miget

NP
Medical Provider

Susan has been in healthcare for more than 20 years. She was an ICU nurse for nine years, then returned to school and completed her master of nursing and family nurse practitioner degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2007. She practiced pain management for many years before developing her current passion for addiction treatment.

Susan has transitioned her practice to focus entirely on addiction treatment. She has worked in residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs. Susan most enjoys working with patients one-on-one in a private office to protect their confidentiality and ensure top-rate care. Knowing that addiction can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any time, Susan continues to strive to make treatment more accessible and confidential.

Whitney-Grant

Whitney Grant

MSN, FNP-BC, ARNP, RN, CPN
Medical Provider

Whitney Grant is an experienced family nurse practitioner with experience and expertise in medication-assisted treatment. Whitney earned her BSN at the University of Miami before moving on to achieve a master of science in nursing degree there as well, becoming a nurse practitioner immediately thereafter.

Whitney has since achieved board certification from the ANCC as a family nurse practitioner. After spending her entire formative and educational years in South Florida, Whitney moved to Denver in 2018 to pursue a career as a provider in family practice, sub-specializing in addictions medicine. Whitney has worked under the guidance of Dr. Nathaniel Moore, CMAR’s medical director, since moving to Denver.

Nathaniel Moore

MD
Medical Director

Dr. Nathan Moore is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Moore attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA for his undergraduate work and then attended Duke University School of Medicine and obtained his M.D. in 1995. Dr. Moore then came to Colorado and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Colorado’s Family Medicine Program at Rose Medical Center.

Dr. Moore practices primarily at our Aurora location. He provides comprehensive family medicine services and has a special interest in addiction medicine, treating patients with opioid use disorder as well as alcohol addiction.

Dr. Moore is married with three children. He enjoys mountain biking, running, and golf.